Trumps eats up Netanyahu's cynical 'Trump Heights' ploy Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hopes that naming a Golan Heights settlement after President Donald Trump will flatter the American leader into recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over parts of the West Bank as well. By Shlomi Eldar
Loss, fragmentation on display at the Palestinian Museum "Intimate Terrains," the current exhibition at the Palestinian Museum, displays works by artists from different generations united in their sense of longing, loss and nostalgia. By Ahmad Melhem In Ramallah, reporting on politics
Congress expands Pentagon aid in Syria to cover Islamic State prisoners The Senate’s new defense authorization bill gives the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces greater leeway to build prisons for Islamic State detainees. By Jack Detsch
Istanbul mayoral hopefuls spar in rare debate With a week to go before Istanbul votes again, the opposition’s candidate Ekrem Imamoglu and ruling party's Binali Yildirim sought to consolidate support in the country’s first televised debate in nearly two decades. By Ayla Jean Yackley
Iran’s women’s movement, civil society come under ‘maximum pressure’ While the declared aim of Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran is to pressure the Islamic Republic to alter its policies, Iranian women and civil society are also being subjected to extreme constraints. By Leila Alikarami
Iran announces it will soon exceed nuclear deal limits Iran has announced that in 10 days it will exceed the 300-kilogram limit on its stockpile of low-enriched uranium. By Al-Monitor Staff
Despite European protection offers, Turkey still wants S-400 Turkey is unlikely to be swayed from buying Russian S-400 missile defense systems, even if some European countries continue their defense of Turkish air space. By Metin Gurcan
Turkey’s olive branches have prickly effect on Saudis Grappling with serious economic woes, Turkey is seeking to normalize ties with Saudi Arabia, but some of its fence-mending have badly backfired. By Fehim Tastekin In Paris, reporting on Turkish politics
Gazans get VIP treatment at Egyptian border An Egyptian travel agency has launched a new paid VIP travel service for Gazans who wish to use the Rafah border crossing hassle-free. By Ahmed el-Komi
Will Israel’s Meretz officially become a Jewish-Arab party? Following its poor results in the April elections, left-wing Meretz considers establishing Jewish-Arab co-leadership for the party. By Danny Zaken In Ma'ale HaHamisha, reporting on Israel
Meet the mother of three who is Egypt's first female maestro Eman Genedy has conducted several orchestras and made a name for herself in a conservative society that frowns upon women singing, let alone conducting an orchestra. By Salwa Samir In Giza, reporting on politics
Jordan likely to attend Bahrain summit despite reservations A US official recently said that Jordan, along with Egypt and Morocco, will attend the Bahrain economic workshop aimed at attracting investments to the Palestinian territories, but Jordanian officials have yet to confirm the reports. By Osama Al Sharif
Iranian hard-liners praise taxi driver for booting passenger over 'poor' hijab Divisions in Iranian society over the country's hijab laws are being exposed in a massive backlash over a taxi driver's clash with a female passenger he found in violation of veiling norms. By Saeid Jafari
Iran’s Reformists teetering on electoral boycott as polls approach Faced with declining social capital, Iran’s Reformists are wary of electoral participation without requisite political authority. By Rohollah Faghihi
Annexing East Jerusalem, first step before annexing the West Bank? According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan, Israel will exclude some Palestinian neighborhoods from the Greater Jerusalem municipality, while annexing other East Jerusalem neighborhoods. By Akiva Eldar
Egypt to launch another round of Palestinian negotiations Egypt is willing take another shot at unifying Palestinian factions, but no one seems to be getting their hopes up about the outcome. By Ahmad Melhem In Ramallah, reporting on politics